Hampton Court Palace
Getting there
Hampton Court Palace is located next to the River Thames to the south
west of London. It is within the M25 and about 6 miles from the start
of the M3 and about 8 miles from the start of the M4. Look out for the
brown attraction signs that direct you to Hampton Court Palace.
Hampton Court Palace
East Molesey
Surrey
KT8 9AU
By train
South West Trains run services direct from London Waterloo to Hampton Court. The journey takes only 35 minutes and the palace is a 200 metre walk across the bridge from the station. The train service passes through Wimbledon station, where the London Underground District Line begins. Train time are as follows:
Waterloo to Hampton Court
Monday-Saturday - xx06 and xx36
Sunday - xx27 and xx57
Hampton Court to Waterloo
Monday-Saturday - xx24 and xx54
Sunday - xx05 and xx35
Trains also call at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield,
Wimbledon, Raynes Park, New Malden, Berrylands, Surbiton and Thames
Ditton.
Alternatively, take the train from London Waterloo to Kingston (there
are four trains an hour and the quickest route is via Strawberry Hill or
Shepperton) then the bus from Kingston to Hampton Court Palace. See
below for bus route information.
Hampton Court is in Travel Zone 6 so travelcards that include zone 6 may be used.
Pay-as-you-go Oyster cards are accepted on South West Trains. To make
sure you pay the correct fare, touch in and touch out by placing your
Oyster card on a yellow reader on automatic ticket gates (for example,
at London Waterloo) or platform validators (which are at Hampton Court
station) at the start and end of your journey.
For further information and how any planned engineering works affect services, please visit Southwest Trains
By bus
Bus routes: 111*, 216*, 411*, 451, R68, 513.
Bus route details:
111 - From Heathrow Airport Central, Cranford, Hounslow, Hampton and Kingston
216 - From Staines, Ashford, Sunbury, Hampton and Kingston
411 - From West Molesey and Kingston
451 - From Staines, Chertsey, Byfleet, Weybridge, Walton, West Molesey and Kingston - no evening or Sunday service
R68 - From Kew, Richmond, Twickenham
513 - has a very limited service, about three times a day on Mondays to Saturdays.
*These services accept LT cards, bus passes, Travelcards, Freedom Passes and Saver Tickets.
By car
The palace is located on the A308 and is well signposted from all the major local roads; drivers should follow the brown tourist attraction road signs. From the M25 take either exit 10 on to the A307 or exit 12 on to the A308. The palace is also accessible via the A3 and then the A309. For a map to help you plan your journey, visit Multimap.
Limited parking is available at Hampton Court Palace, see our tickets and prices section for prices. Parking is also available at the Hampton Court train station (please check at the station for prices).
By riverboat
Riverboats run in the summer from Westminster, Richmond upon Thames
and Kingston upon Thames. The journey from Westminster can take up to 4
hours, depending on the tides.
For information services from Westminster and Kew, contact Westminster Passenger Services on +44 (0)20 7930 2062 or wpsa and for services from Richmond and Kingston, contact Turks Launches on +44 (0)20 8546 2434 or Turks Launches.
Gray's Inn, London
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barrister and judges) in London.
Located at the intersection of High Holborn and Gray's Inn Road, the Inn is known for its gardens, or Walks, which have existed since at least 1597.
The OSC was delighted to first perform in The Walks in 2009 with its production of Romeo & Juliet.
Gray’s Inn has a rich and colourful history. It does not claim a specific foundation date; there is a tradition that none of the Inns of Court claims to be any older than the others. Law clerks and their apprentices have been established on the present site since at least 1370, with records dating from 1391.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Inn grew steadily, reaching its pinnacle during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Inn was home to many important barristers and politicians, most notably Francis Bacon, and counted Elizabeth herself as a patron. During this period, the Inn became noted for the masques and revels that it threw.
William Shakespeare is believed to have performed there at least once. It is thought that for the Christmas of 1594, his play The Comedy of Errors was performed by the Lord Chamberlain's Men before a riotous assembly of notables in such disorder that the affair became known as the Night of Errors and a mock trial was held to arraign the culprit.
The Walks are the gardens within Gray's Inn, and have existed since at least 1597, when records show that Francis Bacon was to be paid £7 for "planting of trees in the walkes". The gardens became commonly used as a place of relaxation. Samuel Pepys in the first year of the Restoration (1660) - always one with an eye for the ladies - noted "to Gray's Inn where I saw many beauties" and to the Walks "where great store of gallants, but above all Mrs Frances Butler is the greatest beauty".
At the end of the 18th century Charles Lamb said that the Walks were "the best gardens of any of the Inns of Court, their aspect being altogether reverend and law-abiding".
The Walks continue to be used enjoyed by members of the Inn and the public, who are welcome each day.
The
Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
High
Holborn
London WC1R
5ET
Gray’s Inn is situated on High Holborn at the City end. The nearest underground station is Chancery Lane, on the central line. Alternatively we are 5 minutes walk from Holborn, on the Piccadilly line. Bus route numbers include: 8, 17, 25, 45, 46, 171A, 242, 243, and 521.
The main entrance for pedestrians and vehicles into South Square is through a narrow archway, which can be found on High Holborn, between Rymans the stationers and the Cittie of York pub.
If assistance is required, the porter's lodge is located a few yards further on the right.
www.graysinn.info
The Observatory Garden, Greenwich Royal Park
Greenwich Royal Park covers 73 hectares (183 acres) and is the oldest enclosed Royal Park. It is situated on a hilltop with impressives views across the River Thames to the Docklands and the City of London.
Greenwich Park provides a setting for several historic buildings, including the old Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House.
There has been a settlement on this site since Roman times, but Greenwich has always been strongly associated with royalty. Since the land was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester, brother of Henry V, generations of monarchs have taken this magnificent park to their hearts.
Greenwich was the birthplace of Henry VIII who introduced deer to the park. His two daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were also born here and his son Edward VI died in Greenwich before he reached his sixteenth birthday. In the early 1600s, the park was laid out in the French style with many trees planted, some of which remain today. James I gave the palace and the park to his wife, Queen Anne, who commissioned Inigo Jones to design her a special home which became know as the Queen's House.
It was Charles II's great interest in science that resulted in the founding of The Royal Society in 1661. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to build The Royal Observatory, named Flamsteed House after the first Royal Astronomer John Flamsteed and now part of the National Maritime Museum. Today Greenwich is a World Heritage Site and is most famous for Greenwich Mean Time. During World War II, there were anti-aircraft guns in the Flower Garden and the tips of some of the trees were cut off to widen the field of fire. Evidence of this can still be seen in the truncated shape of some of the trees. After the war, the park was restored to its former glory.
Tube:
North Greenwich - Jubilee Line (then catch the 188 bus to
Greenwich Park gate.)
Train:
Connecting trains depart from Cannon Street, Waterloo, London
Bridge and Charing Cross and go to Greenwich, Maze Hill and Blackheath.
Dockland Light Railway:
Cutty Sark station - walk through the market and you will
reach St Mary's Gate and the Circus Gates of the Park.
Greenwich station - follow the signs to the Park.
Bus:
53 Trafalgar Square - Plumstead
54 Woolwich - Elmers End
177 Thamesmead - Peckham
180 Thamesmead - Lewisham
188 North Greenwich - Russel Square
199 Canada Water - Catford
202 Crystal Palace - Blackheath
286 Greenwich - Sidcup
380 Lewisham - Woolwich
386 Greenwich - Woolwich
Riverboat:
You can take riverboats to Greenwich Pier from Westminster,
Embankment
or Tower Piers.
Parking facilities and disabled parking available.
Vehicle Access
Greenwich Park opens at 7am to vehicles, however, please note that there
is no through traffic from 10am to 4pm each day and the park is closed
to through traffic at weekends and bank holidays. Parking facilities at
weekends and bank holidays are available via Blackheath Gate.
MAP (The Observatory Garden is situated next to The Royal Observatory, mark 1 on the map)